From the mouth of babes...

From the mouth of babes...

Well......maybe they aren't "babes" anymore but they are truly an impression group of young adults. The members of the Pharmacy LEADERS Track have accomplished incredible projects, service, and leadership (big and little L) and learned a lot about themselves, about leadership, and about being a team member. As we reach the end of another academic year (ok, maybe I am rushing the semester a little but it is almost April and graduation is May 7th), I cannot help but reflect on these amazing leaders. But, rather than tell you about them myself, I have decided to let you read about their thoughts and words in their blogs....

Elliott Bosco, Class of 2017: www.morezest.blogspot.com

Taylor Harkness, Class of 2017: www.thpharmacyleader.blogspot.com

Lauren Trahan, Classof 2017: www.laurentrahan-uconnpharmacyleaders.blogspot.com

Michael Paulin, Class of 2018: www.mikepaulinleadersblog.blogspot.com

Vincent Do, Class of 2017: www.vincentpharmacyleaders.blogspot.com

Tanner Rathbone, Class of 2017: www.tannerrathboneleader.blogspot.com

Stephanie Aryee, Class of 2017: www.leaderstephsblog.blogspot.com

Enjoy!!!

Once a Husky, Always a Husky

UConn Students Need You!!

Re-engaging School of Pharmacy alumni

As a UConn alumni, I cheer for the Huskies in all sports, brag about the Huskies and bash our rivals (don't even get me started on the old UConn-Duke basketball rivalry), attend UConn hockey, soccer, and basketball games with my family, bring my daughter to the Dairy Bar (Husky Tracks!!!), attend plays at Jorgenson, find excuses to make another trip to the UConn Co-Op for more UConn paraphernalia, hold dear to my heart the friends I made at UConn (and never forget to send a Christmas card even if I have not seem them in years), remember all the great times I had a UConn, look at the window to my old dorm room whenever I drive past, look at old photos from UConn and reminisce, and even rub the nose of the Jonathan statue for good luck. How many of you who are UConn pharmacy alumni can relate to that???

Yet, until I came back to UConn as a faculty member, I never gave back to the UConn School of Pharmacy. Can you relate to that too?? Why?? Why do we treasure all things UConn but never try to be a part of the school that gave us so much? Why do we never want to help the current students to grow into pharmacists and researchers that will make us proud that they are UConn alumni and members of our profession?

Within the UConn School of Pharmacy, alumni services fall under the umbrella of the Office of Academic Affairs. Therefore, I think often about the incredible pharmacists and researchers who have graduated from the school. In particular I think about how much our current students could gain from these graduates. No, I am not referring to donations of money...although the school would be thrilled to receive monetary donations, especially given the current economic environment in the state. What I think the students would really benefit from is the knowledge and experience of UConn's graduates. There is so much knowledge that can not be taught in school and only gained through time.

Because I believe this, the Pharmacy LEADERS Track has a mentoring/networking program in which each track member is connected with an alumnus or other individual associated with the school. The student and mentor get to know each other through emails, phone calls, and/or visits. The feedback from the students has been very positive about this opportunity to network with these alumni. I also developed the Leadership and Latte series, similar to the Lunch and Learn events, which bring leaders in pharmacy to the school to share their knowledge, experience, and thoughts on leadership with the students monthly. Many an alum has been cornered after the event by a student or two or ten who want more information.

Yet, these networking and learning opportunities only reach a small population of students. Every student would benefit from the wisdom of our alumni!! Please do not think that you would not have anything to offer current pharmacy students. Please do not think that you won't get anything out of it personally. They need you and you need them!! For many years, alumni volunteers have participated in the Pharmacy Communications course, giving their guidance on patient counseling skills. Believe me when I tell you that the students and alumni benefit equally. Do you think these volunteers would give a day per week for an entire semester to come to the school if they were not benefiting from the experience??

You do not need to spend time in the classroom or give large amounts of time in order to provide benefit to the school and the students. We are always looking for alumni who are interested in serving as preceptors, serving as mentors, serving as speakers to student groups, serving on advisory boards, helping with recruitment, attending alumni events...if you can dream it, our students will love it!!

Once a Husky...Always a Husky! Come be a part of UConn today, tomorrow, and always!!!

Farmers Market Initiative

Anyone who believes that being a student is only a Monday through Friday responsibility obviously has not been a member of the UConn School of Pharmacy LEADERS Track. These students are committed to demonstrating their dedication to the people of Connecticut 24/7/365...even if that means giving up Saturdays and Sundays during the summer.

The students within the track educate the public on summer health risks through our Farmers Market Initiative. At farmers markets through the state, the students man a booth at which they educate market attendees on the importance of sunscreen use and it proper application, along with discussing other topics such as tick prevention and removal or dehydration prevention.

Why do the students do this?? From the student perspective, they enjoy the opportunity to interact with the public and provide education in a service-focused setting. From the patient perspective, they enjoy the free samples of sunscreen that we use to lure them in and benefit from the knowledge gained. We have lost count of the number of people who say they know exactly how to use sunscreen but then are surprised when the students remind them to reapply every 2 hours. From my perspective as a faculty member and pharmacist, this initiative provides the opportunity for students to practice their communication skills while providing a service to the community.  Students often think that a relaxed environment like a farmers market will be easy but when they actually need to find a way to engage someone who is walking by and get their key points mentioned, they quickly learn that this setting can be just as challenging as standing in front of a large audience. By the end of the day, the students have learned different "tricks" for getting the attention of attendees - anything from convincing a small child to come win a sunscreen sample by playing a game to reminding the person with the tattoo who think he does not need sunscreen that he needs to protect the beautiful artwork on his arm to offering sunscreen to the vendors who will be standing outside all day.

Service, patient education, and student development...that sounds like a win-win to me!! But, how successful is the program??? Between the 6 markets we attended this summer we educated over 1500 Connecticut residents. Definitely win-win!!

An end or a beginning??

As another spring semester comes to a close, my emotions are extremely mixed...as they are every year at this time but even more so this year.

Part of me is overjoyed to reach the end of a semester of teaching...more accurately, I am overjoyed to reach the end of the stress and work which comes with a semester of teaching. For those who ask (and I get asked often), yes, I do still work during the summer but it is more focused on research, projects, administrative responsibilities, and preparing for the next semester. But, it is a different feeling without the constant swirl of chaos that the semester brings. Don't get me wrong - the students are typically the best part of my job. Unfortunately, the rest of the job goes into a holding pattern while classes are in session so there is always this feeling of being behind on your work.

This year I am sad to see the semester end because 5 of the Pharmacy LEADERS Track students will be receiving their PharmD degrees just 2 short days from now. I am sad for me, not for them. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow into the incredible leaders they are today. It may sound motherly of me but I wish I could keep them from leaving the nest.

The graduation of these 5 leaders also brings me an amazing sense of pride. They are the first UConn School of Pharmacy graduates to earn the distinction of Pharmacy LEADERS Scholar. They jumped in with both feet into a brand new track and helped to develop it. They were leaders long before they stepped into the track but used the track as an opportunity to expand their knowledge, skills, and attitudes in leadership. I am confident that they will represent themselves and UConn well as alumni, leaders, and health care providers.

Wherever they go and whatever they do, they always have a home in our hearts and are Huskies Forever!

If you keep on believing...

13.1 miles... I drive farther than that just to go to work each day but running that far seemed like an impossibility, a distance my body would never permit. Well, this weekend I proved myself wrong! The impossible was possible!

On Saturday morning, I awoke at 3am to join 17,000 other runners for the Walt Disney World half marathon, a very humid run from Epcot to Magic Kingdom (of course, we ran through the castle) and back to Epcot. Despite my anxiety all week, that morning I was amazingly calm which is unusual for me with any race distance. 

By my side was my dear friend, Mary. We both had our doubts about completing the race and we both had our reasons why we wanted to complete it. In the weeks leading up to the race we seemed to take turns being the one to question whether this was a good idea, having injuries, and getting distracted from our training. In the end it was our determination to achieve this goal and our commitment to each other that got us on that starting line.

For the first 11.5 miles, I would say that it was the best run I have ever had. I was relaxed. I wasn't playing head games with myself. I wasn't panicked about whether I was going too fast or too slow for Mary. I was just enjoying where we were. The last mile and a half when my quad started cramping? Well, that was another story. But...the story has a happy ending because it was then that Mary really pushed me to not quit.

I didn't realize it until that evening at dinner but Mary had been mentally struggling for the first miles of the race. Sometimes it is hard to get your head into the race. When that happens, it is a challenge to put one foot in front of the other. Because she was struggling, she was relying on me. I had no idea!

In the end, I accomplished a feat I did not think would ever happen...and considering all the road blocks that kept popping up, it would have been easy to walk away from attempting to achieve it. Along with my lungs telling me to not attempt this race, I was beginning to think Fate was telling me to give it up as well. Two years ago, I ruptured my calf muscle before this race. Last year I contracted mono. Less than two months before this year's race, I developed plantar fasciitis. 

By believing in and pushing for a dream, I proved the impossible was possible. As Cinderella would say..."Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come shining thru. No matter how you heart is grieving if you keep on believing the dream that you wish will come true...."

                                  

Time to shut up and run....

For those of you who know me, I run (or at least I attempt to run).  Due to my asthma every run is a challenge and involves a great amount of faith that my lungs won't fail me. Are there days that the lungs fail me? Yes! Are there days that I want to quit? Yes! Are there days that my husband finds me on the porch sobbing from the absolute frustration? Yes!

Have you ever watched everyone around you excel while you grow more frustrated? Well, welcome to my life! There are days I don't even want to look at my running shoes. Most weekends, particularly at this time of year, my family participates in one running race or another. Every year my husband gets faster. Every year my daughter gets faster. Every year I don't!

To add to my running frustration, I loved to see my students (and former students) excel, not just in school but also in extra-curricular activities that make them well-rounded. Many of these activities involve running - I must be sadistic. I am amazed by their speed! I am so happy for them. I am so proud of them. But, why, oh why, can't I have just some of their speed and strong lungs??

Whenever I think I am going to give up running to spare my lungs (and my nerves), I "run" across the moments that push me on.  Today was the third such moment in just the last month (somebody must really think I need them right now...and they would be right). Let me take a minute to share these moments with you....

Today at the duathlon my husband was in, I decided to volunteer to assist on the course. The most amazing 80 year old man was participating in the race. Despite requiring more than 30 minutes to complete his first 2-mile run and then falling off this bike, he insisted on completing his second run. When we were all convinced he must have given up on his run, I offered to jog the course to find him. When I found him, he was happily jogging along, not wanting my help and not caring how long it took to finish. What will we all be doing at 80????? I hope I am pushing forward like he was.

A few weeks again, I ran with my daughter for her first 10k race. By the end I wanted someone to put me out of my misery....then the one participant in a wheelchair came across the finish line. Everyone applauded. Even the first place finisher went over to congratulate him. He looked so happy to have finished! I immediately told myself to stop complaining since I had been able to start and finish it on my own two feet!!

The third event (or actually the first chronologically) happened on Labor Day weekend and as soon as I saw it I knew it was a memory that would stay with me. As my daughter and I waited after our run for my husband to finish his much longer run, a man came across the finish line carrying a flag. I don't mean a little flag the size of an index card or a flag draped across his shoulders. This was a full size flag on a pole. He had run 20k (more than 12miles if you need help with the conversion) carrying this flag on the hottest, most humid day ever. When he crossed the finish line, he dropped to his knees and started praying aloud. In this prayer, he named all those who had died in service of our country that he was running in remembrance of.

During my tough runs and days I don't even want to try, I hear these memories calling out to me, saying, "Lauren, shut up and run...."

Always a student...

Last week I spent an incredible 5 days in Virginia for the first session of the AACP Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP). The ALFP is a year-long program designed to "develop the nation's most promising pharmacy faculty for roles as future leaders in academic pharmacy and higher education." The sessions focus on self assessment, peer assessment, in-depth leadership development, team building, exploration of legislative and public policy issues critical to pharmaceutical and higher education, administrative competencies development, and application of leadership experiences. 

The first session primarily focused on self and peer assessment. And boy did I ever assess myself!! I have often considered my "personality traits" (such as overachieving, structured to a fault, etc) as faults. This week, particularly through our discussion on our StrengthsFinder results, demonstrated that those are my strength that I should not hide from, but recognize and utilize. I started the week wanting to not always feel "guilty" about my "weaknesses" (aka those talents I see in others that are not my talents). In reality, "weaknesses" should only be addressed if they cause a problem. We all have different talents. That does not mean that one set of talents is better or worse than another. We just need to recognize our talents in order to maximize them.

The ALFP cohort is divided into 5 groups of 6 fellows plus a dean mentor. My group included a very diverse group of individuals - a group that I might never have picked for myself. By the end of the week I knew these people better than I know many of my dearest friends. This is in part due to our appreciation of and recognition of each others strengths...and maybe also in part to our 6am walks and 11pm pub time. I miss them already and can't wait for our conference call in 2 weeks and our next session in November.

It would take me pages to tell you everything I learned and felt (especially when I was at the top of an 80 foot pole!!) last week and hope to continue to carry in my heart for a long time to come. So, I will just share some important (at least to me) ideas that I have been reflecting on:

1. Do not look at leaders as their titles

2. Communication, trust, and relationship building are key

3. Avoid technical answers to adaptive problems

4. Is it lovely or lonely at the top?

5. Focus on weakness prevents failure; focus on strengths leads to excellence

6. All "strengths" have a balcony and a basement

7. You can't do it all! You may need to give up something that makes an impact in order to make a bigger impact.

Oh, in case anyone is wondering, my signature themes are: strategic, learner, achiever, individualization, and context.